Free of: Eggs, gluten, peanuts, nuts, soy (plus dairy-free options)
Stars of the Show: Savanna’s Strawberrylicious and The Devil Went Down to Georgia CupcakesWhy We Love It: Driving to Disney? Stop over at this southern establishment for enticing cupcakes and homey favorites, like biscuits with sausage gravy and takeout pizzas.

Free of: Gluten, peanuts and tree nutsStars of the Show: Double Lemon Bars and Blueberry Monster MuffinsWhy We Love It: This quaint eatery mixes nostalgic American indulgences with French patisserie flair. Guests eat up the sweet service and the classic treats that taste just like grandma used to make.

Free of: Dairy and glutenStars of the Show: Sugar Cookies and Classic BrowniesWhy We Love It: From custom cakes to savory breads and single-serve treats, this award-winning shop freshly bakes every last crumb for a delicious handmade experience.

Free of: Gluten and Top 11 food allergens.Stars of the Show: Choco-coco CupcakeWhy We Love It: From French macaroons to diner-style donuts, this sweet new shop whips up formerly forbidden delights in a fully dedicated kitchen. The owner shows a keen attention to detail.

Free of: Dairy, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut (can accommodate soy-free)Star of the Show: Quinoa & Honey BreadWhy We Love It: While decadent cakes and cookies are on the menu, the focus is on wholesome quality ingredients. The bakery is certified organic by Ecocert and gluten-free certification is underway.

Free of: Dairy, gluten, peanut, soy and tree nutStar of the Show: Classic and Honey Sandwich BreadsWhy We Love It: While their friendly bakers are proficient in custom cakes and cupcakes, they also satisfy our savoury side with beloved buns, breads and handmade to-go mixes.

Free of: Peanut and tree nut (dairy- and egg-free Angels line also available)Star of the Show: Hand-decorated Sugar CookiesWhy We Love It: Whimsical cookies and cupcake creations are customized for any occasion, from weddings to school programs. The storefront studio hosts birthday parties and decorating classes.

Free of: Dairy, egg, gluten, and peanut*Star of the Show: Mile-High BrownieWhy We Love It: Run by a mother-daughter duo this vegan venture focuses on nutrient-rich, organic ingredients and won “Best Bakery” at the 2013 Toronto Vegetarian Food Festival.*Tree nuts aren’t used, but the gluten-free flour that’s used has a ‘may contain’ statement for tree nuts.

]]>http://allergicliving.com/2014/07/24/allergy-friendly-and-gluten-free-bakeries-in-canada/feed/0AllergyEats Releases List of the Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurantshttp://allergicliving.com/2014/03/05/allergyeats-releases-list-of-the-most-allergy-friendly-restaurants/
http://allergicliving.com/2014/03/05/allergyeats-releases-list-of-the-most-allergy-friendly-restaurants/#commentsWed, 05 Mar 2014 21:17:30 +0000http://allergicliving.com/?p=24311AllergyEats, a popular website and app that lets users rate restaurants according to their allergy-friendliness, has released its 2014 list of the most allergy-friendly restaurant chains.

“We’re pleased to announce the 2014 list of the most allergy-friendly restaurant chains in the country. These restaurants have demonstrated a superior willingness and ability to accommodate guests with food allergies,” said AllergyEats founder Paul Antico, who is also the father of three food-allergic children. AllergyEats has ratings on over 650,000 restaurants across the country.

The chains were grouped into three categories, based on how many locations they have: large (over 200 locations), medium (50 to 200 locations) and small (under 50 locations).

Without further ado, here are the most allergy-friendly restaurants in the U.S., as rated by users of AllergyEats:

Large:

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Outback Steakhouse

Romano’s Macaroni Grill

Medium:

Bonefish Grill

Ninety Nine Restaurant

Mellow Mushroom

Uno Chicago Grill

Bertucci’s Brick Oven Restaurant

Small:

Burtons Grill

Maggiano’s Little Italy

Papa Razzi

Legal Sea Foods

Not Your Average Joe’s

Congratulations to all these restaurants for going above and beyond when it comes to accommodating food allergies. Extra congratulations to Burtons Grill, who received the highest rating of all at 4.9 out of 5.

The revolutionary idea will move forward as a pilot project, with auto-injectors slated to be placed in a food court or major restaurant chain by the spring of 2014. After that, they will remain for one year before the idea is re-examined.

Hamilton will be covering some of the costs associated with the program. It is unclear who will be pay for the remainder.

Hamilton’s mayor, Bob Bratina, told a local newspaper he thinks more information is needed before moving forward. He also wants to hear opinions from the city’s restaurant industry.

“I’m not clear how the city should be involved or at what cost,” he said.

It’s possible that the Rotary Club of Ancaster will help with funding in the future – as this organization originally came up with the ideabefore it was brought forward to city council by club member and councilor Lloyd Ferguson.

The city’s lawyer has also been charged with looking into Ontario’s Good Samaritan Act, an act which legally protects people aiding others in an emergency, to make sure anyone using such a stock epinephrine device wouldn’t be held liable for any issues that may arise.

Earlier this year, the Hamilton city council voted to look into the possibility of keeping the life-saving devices on hand at all food courts, fast food outlets, restaurants and any other food outlet within its borders.

“I don’t think we can move too quickly on this,” councilor Lloyd Ferguson told The Hamilton Spectator. “Let’s step up and show the country how to save lives.”

]]>http://allergicliving.com/2013/10/25/city-proceeds-with-auto-injector-pilot-project/feed/0City Mulls Auto-Injectors in Restaurantshttp://allergicliving.com/2013/09/16/city-mulls-auto-injectors-in-restaurants/
http://allergicliving.com/2013/09/16/city-mulls-auto-injectors-in-restaurants/#commentsMon, 16 Sep 2013 20:52:09 +0000http://allergicliving.com/?p=19609Hamilton, Ontario has become the first city in the world to consider requiring all food-service outlets to have an epinephrine auto-injector on hand in case of an allergic emergency. “This issue has sparked a lot of conversation,” says Lloyd Ferguson, the councillor in the Canadian city who is spearheading the initiative.

The concept is to have auto-injectors available in public places, similar to automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. This would protect not just those with known food allergies who forget their auto-injectors, but also those who experience anaphylaxis for the first time without ever having been told they have an allergy.

A local Rotary Club branch actually came up with the idea, after a 12-year-old girl from a nearby town experienced anaphylaxis in March and died after eating ice cream at a mall. She had no history of severe reactions and did not carry an auto-injector.

Ferguson, who is a member of the rotary club, got behind the idea, taking it to city council in the form of a motion. While it remains unclear who would be responsible for distributing and purchasing the devices, the text of the motion says that “the Rotary Club of Ancaster A.M. has set a goal to have an auto-injector in every food court, restaurant, snack bar and fast food facility in Hamilton”. Ferguson notes that this rotary club may end up helping to finance the project, but this has yet to be determined.

There are significant hurdles to overcome to see this become reality: including the costs associated with purchasing, distributing and replacing the auto-injectors (about $100 each with a one-year shelf life), as well as the training necessary for restaurant staff to use the devices.

But Hamilton is definitely considering the move: Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, has been tasked with looking into the idea along with well-known allergist Dr. Susan Waserman, a professor of medicine at McMaster University. They are expected to release a report detailing the feasibility and costs surrounding the program, including how to get restaurant staff trained in using the lifesaving devices. This report will be released in October.

“I generally support the idea, but there will be challenges, and it will take some strategizing to see how best to execute it,” notes Dr. Waserman. “It’s best to start this as a small pilot project.”

Another question is whether individuals who administer an auto-injector will be legally protected. Ferguson believes this would fall under Ontario’s Good Samaritan Act, which protects individuals responding to an emergency from liability.

Also being considered is whether the program would be mandatory or voluntary. This is something that would be decided after running a pilot test version, says Ferguson.

While the report is being penned, at least one other Canadian jurisdiction has already expressed some interest in the idea. Nearby Peel Region has tabled a letter on the same topic from the Canadian Anaphylaxis Initiative, a food allergy advocacy group, for further discussion.

Blue Smoke116 E. 27th St., New York City www.bluesmoke.com
“Enjoy jazz and mouthwatering barbecue under one roof. They have nut- and gluten-free menus, which include fantastic salt and pepper ribs.”–Sloane Miller, www.allergicgirl.com

Lebanese Taverna10 locations in the Washington, D.C. areawww.lebanesetaverna.com
“Since completing NFCA’s GREAT Kitchens training, their menu has become rich with gluten-free offerings and they have gained popularity with the D.C. food allergy community.”–Alice Bast, www.celiaccentral.org

Weber Grill Restaurant3 Chicago area locations, 1 in Indianapoliswww.webergrillrestaurant.com
“The restaurants have a fun atmosphere where Weber grills are used as the cooking medium. Their gluten-free menu is carefully thought through, with delicious burgers, ribs and brisket.”–Michael De Cicco-Butz, www.glutenfreemike.com